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The richest 1% of the world’s population now possesses more wealth than the remaining 99%. This milestone underscores the yawning chasm between the rich and the poor. Income inequality is destined to continue unless government policies and tax laws change, according to Oxfam’s Max Lawson. The evidence he presents will strengthen the arguments of those who rail against the wealth gap, and his thesis is powerful enough to win a few converts from among those who believe the issue is overblown. getAbstract recommends Lawson’s enlightening article to executives, economists and anyone interested in the worldwide impacts of the extreme wealth disparity.

In this summary, you will learn

Why trickle-down economics is a fiction,

Why government policies and tax rules make it more attractive for the wealthy to invest in capital rather than labor, and

Why such an uneven distribution of wealth is harmful to the global economy.

About the Author

Max Lawson is head of advocacy and public policy at Oxfam Great Britain.

Summary

According to a recent study, since 2000, the poorest 50% of the world’s population has captured just 1% of the “total increase in global wealth,” while the top 1% of the population has captured 50%. Since 2011, the combined wealth of the bottom 50% has dropped by $1 trillion. But not everyone is concerned...